The pathetic nonsense Granger’s British advisor uttered

Aug 14, 2019 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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I have always lamented the state of journalism in Guyana. Journalists do not do research. They have to. They have that obligation to their readers and viewers. There are literally hundreds of controversial areas in the exercise of power that go unpublished because our journalists are not willing to research them and give the Guyanese people what they need to know.
After the publication of this column, it is hoped that the private media do its job. There was a Caucasian advisor from the UK that last week lectured to PNC and AFC leadership on the shape of the upcoming election campaign. This gentleman never visited Guyana before. Whatever he knows about Guyana, he probably gleamed from the internet.
Granger informed the AFC that he would like them to do a tête-á-tête with this gentleman. Granger suggested the entire national executive (around 33 persons) meet this fellow because the talk would be on campaign strategy.
A section of the AFC’s founding leadership suggested that such a gathering would be too large and information on the advisor’s presence in Guyana could get out. After a fierce disagreement, the total body met this British advisor at State House.
Here in Guyana, the AFC and the PNC are becoming more unstable and bizarre as the election date draws near. At the gathering, the consultant was introduced but his name was not spelt out. Five AFC executives told me that his name was not mentioned.
For the purpose of this article, I felt inclined to contact Ramjattan, Patterson, Trotman for the name. On second thoughts, I think the media should follow up the issue with both the PNC and AFC.
The man’s delivery was foolish and nonsensical. I will highlight the two most asinine items in his presentation. First, he told the dead meat apparatchiks of the AFC that from here on, the strategy of the APNU+AFC should be to shift focus away from Jagdeo to Irfaan Ali because Ali is the presidential candidate not Jagdeo.
He advised that it is counterproductive to concentrate on Jagdeo, instead dedicate energy to exposing Ali.
Dem boys seh this British bloke smoking dried “konga pump”. The face of the PPP campaign is Bharrat Jagdeo. Only a clown doesn’t know that and Mr. Granger’s consultant is a clown.
If the APNU+AFC is going to convert undecided voters and motivate them to reject the PPP in the election, then it has to dissect the Jagdeo leadership of the past government until it lost power in 2015.
It has to show the electorate that Jagdeo messed up big time and wants to lead Guyana again through Ali. This British consultant is not familiar with Guyana so he doesn’t know that Jagdeo told the media, after Ali clinched the PPP’s presidential nomination, that if the PPP wins, he will participate in the government.
The second major aspect of the presentation is the advice that from here on, the AFC must expand as much as possible the image of Granger. He told the AFC’s dead meat apparatchiks that the 2019 campaign must be on Granger. Here again we see the ignorance of this gentleman.
The man should be lecturing Granger not the AFC. Granger has held three press conferences in four years. Why should the AFC maximise the aura of Granger when Granger himself refused to enlarge his own image? My honest opinion is that Granger has no aura that could be expanded.
What does this stranger to Guyanese politics know about Granger? We have had six executive presidents before Granger (I am omitting the six month interim status of Sam Hinds). Of those six, Burnham, Hoyte, Janet and Cheddi Jagan and Jagdeo were all more dynamic and self-assured heads of government with definite leadership qualities.
The tussle for the winner of the contest for lackluster presidency is between Granger and Ramotar. Although Ramotar’s strings were pulled by Jagdeo, he was not as self-effacing as Granger. He was not as bereft in leadership qualities as Granger.
Mr. Granger is not charismatic. He is not a forceful speaker. His deliveries lack political attractiveness.
It would be better if this consultant sits down with Granger and tries to transform him. He should tell Ganger when to open his mouth and when to shut up. When asked last week by the media, if he would appeal the Chief Justice’s H2H ruling given that just minutes before he told the reporters he will not accept a decision not favourable to the conduct of credible election, he responded, “I said what I said.”
That was not only arrogance; it shows lack of leadership qualities. The British bloke has his work cut out.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

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